It’s all about Sol in Women Professional Soccer league’s inaugural contest

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Los Angeles Sol vs. Washington Freedom
Sol’s Shannon Boxx (7) leaps onto Allison Falk (3) after Falk scored a first half goal, the first ever, against Freedom in the inaugural WPS soccer game at the Home Depot Center in Carson Sunday. The Sol won the game 2-0.
March 29, 2009. Photo by Steve McCrank.

CARSON – On another day, one that Women’s Professional Soccer is hoping to soon see, Sunday’s league opener could have been billed as a matchup of national treasures measuring their individual and teams’ worth against each other.

The WPS instead had to settle for taking a deep breath and hoping for public acclaim for a new product on the shelf.

One thing was certain as the Sol inaugurated the league with a 2-0 victory over the Washington Freedom: The Home Depot Center crowd, announced at 14,832, was fully prepared to greet one player as a rock star.

Marta, the diminutive 23-year-old gem from Brazil, didn’t disappoint for the most part, though it was clear that her electrifying skills will have to be woven into the Sol as it develops as a team.

That’s for later. More interesting was the fact that a corner of the stadium was staked out for “Marta’s Maniacs.”

On the other side was Abby Wambach, the U.S. national team star who was playing competitively for the first time since breaking her leg last July 16.

Both saw the bigger picture.

“This is always my dream since I was a little girl, to become a professional,” said Marta, who has already played for seasons in Sweden. “I live my life to play football and help my family. This has always been a dream of mine and I’m realizing that dream now.

“I love to see so many people here.”

It’s been six years since the United States fielded a women’s pro league. In the time since, the end of a college career was the ceiling for all but the handful talented enough to play internationally.

“It was a great day,” said the 29-year-old Wambach, who has scored 99 goals in 127 games for the U.S. national team. “I didn’t think there would be that many people here.

“Fortunately for them, they came out with a win and it will probably keep people coming out to this venue. And hopefully we can win our home opener.”

Now that’s perspective, particularly for a sporting public that has soured on the David Beckham publicity-is-everything drive in Major League Soccer.

WPS commissioner Tonya Antonucci had to hedge when asked if Marta’s presence was equivalent to Beckham’s arrival/departure schedule with the Galaxy, which hasn’t formed a playoff team with him on the roster.

Amid the atmosphere of a mixed crowd, not just one of tween-age girls screaming for Mia Hamm, came soccer, and 5 minutes, 26 seconds into the match, the first goal.

In a small way, the Sol’s first score represented what could ultimately be the strength of the league – a legend, an international standout, and a youngster trying to make her way as a pro. And none were named Marta or Wambach.

Aya Miyami, a star for Japan’s national team, sent a long, left-footed free kick from the right sideline toward the Freedom goal.

Brianna Scurry, the goalkeeping hero for the U.S. in the 1999 World Cup, leaped off her line.

Sol defender Allison Falk, who will turn 22 tomorrow and never achieved more than second team All-Pacific-10 honors at Stanford, also jumped.

Scurry’s hand hit the ball. Falk thought she got a piece of it with the side of her head. Scurry said Falk never touched it. The ball bounded into the back of the net.

“It was an amazing ball from Aya and I just kind of went up for it,” Falk said. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to get it, but I went for it and I think it hit the side of me and went in. It was surreal.”

The league was off and running, The Freedom held the better of play well into the second half but couldn’t fully contain Marta.

Three minutes from the end, Marta sped down the middle with the ball, turned, then sent a pass back to the right where midfielder Camille Abily waited. Abily gathered it then chipped the ball over Scurry’s head for the second goal.

“We have our own professional league again, and that is the most important thing,” Wambach said. “I am now a better player than I would have been if I hadn’t played in this game. That in and of itself is a success.”